The Linn community came together to pray, sing and give thanks Sunday evening at the Linn Ministerial Alliance's annual community Thanksgiving service.
This annual event rotates among churches in the community, and attendees from different congregations come together for the service.
This year's event was at First Baptist Church. Other participating congregations include St. George Catholic Church, St. John's United Methodist Church, Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Community Christian Church and Solid Rock Baptist Church.
Normally, there is a finger-food fellowship after the event, but that was canceled due to COVID-19.
Mary Schaefferkoetter, who attends First Baptist Church, said she's glad they could still have the event this year at all. Schaefferkoetter said she believes this event is necessary because it's important for the community to come together to give thanks.
"It's really neat to see different congregations come together and just join in and have faith," she said.
The pastor of First Baptist Church has been focusing on giving thanks for the whole month of November. Schaefferkoetter said she appreciates this because Thanksgiving is an important time to reflect on what you're thankful for, but Halloween and Christmas usually get more attention.
On the screen, a video played of a couple talking about the disappointments this year has caused and how it feels like a wasted year. It then shows them playing ping pong and snuggling up on a porch swing as the man realizes it's not wasted time.
"Because God didn't waste a moment of it," he says.
"I think I know what I'm thankful for - everything," his wife replied.
The video ended with a Bible verse: "Give thanks in all things."
Jackie Owensby, who attends Linn Family Worship Center, attends this event every year.
"It's always important to gather brothers and sisters in Christ to sharpen one another and make our day," she said.
She said this event was much needed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It's exciting to just gather with brothers and sisters that have the same belief and knowing that we're going to get through this mess together," she said.
Owensby said it's important to come together with people of different congregations because there is no such thing as different faiths in God's eyes.
"We all believe in one God and one Jesus Christ and one Holy Spirit," she said.
In his sermon, Linn Family Worship Center's the Rev. Matt Lee said there are not separate congregations in Heaven.
"We're one body of believers, one body of Christ," he said.
Lee said he's thankful for the service, the weather, the friends and family we have and that we're alive to see another Thanksgiving. He spoke about the importance of giving thanks, even when it's difficult.
Even if we can't be thankful for what we've received, he said, we should be thankful for what we've escaped. And even when it's difficult to find gratitude, it's important to thank God for the little things, he said, such as your coffee in the morning and the chair you sit in while drinking it.
"God cares about not only our soul, our salvation - he care's about even the little things in life that he would provide such simple pleasures that we overlook every day," he said.